Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 114551 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 573(@200wpm)___ 458(@250wpm)___ 382(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114551 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 573(@200wpm)___ 458(@250wpm)___ 382(@300wpm)
Cara groans and gives me a blank stare. “Are we done with the pissing contest yet? My mom is in the hospital, and I want to get this shit over and done with so I can go sit with her, seeing as though you bastards killed her husband and she has no one else.”
Guilt soars through my chest despite Cara’s exaggeration. Sawyer’s mom is loved by many around here. Nikolai was part of The Circle for decades, meaning his wife was all but royalty in the Empire social circles. There’s no way that woman is sitting alone in a hospital room and Cara knows it. Though, she won’t expect her son to visit any time soon. Despite his need to check on his mom, Sawyer, Dalton, and Cross aren’t going anywhere until we’ve secured Oakley and I have her back in the safety of my home.
Letting out a breath, I step back and address the room. “Tonight’s explosion was a tragedy that has rocked our whole world, a tragedy that we will get to the bottom of. Mark my words, we will find who was responsible for this, and they will be punished accordingly.”
Every head in the room nods, and I continue. “As it was so bluntly pointed out, Oakley Quinn is out of my possession. She is on the run and I will be putting all of my energy into securing her before the ritual. There are only nine days remaining and I intend to make every second count. With that in mind, I will not be hanging around to hold your hands through this tragedy. It is time for you all to step up and be the hope our people need right now.”
Again, they nod, ready to take on any task in the wake of the explosion. “Cara,” I say, turning to meet her eye, hoping like fuck she has the balls to take this bullshit by the horns and make it her bitch. “You are in charge of the proceedings from here. I want a head count and list of every person who perished in the explosion. I want you to personally reach out to every family and offer our condolences and let them know we are working tirelessly to find the person or organization responsible for this. Following that, you will organize with each of the families how they wish to proceed with their burial. All expenses will be paid for, and if they wish, Empire can hold a mass burial.”
Cara’s mouth drops, realizing the magnitude of her job, and the fact that she’s going to have to try to coordinate the other Circle members while dealing with their bullshit, but I’ve known Cara for a long fucking time. Despite her recent betrayals against me and Oakley, out of everyone in this room, I trust her the most.
Then before she gets a chance to ask a single fucking question, I excuse myself, having much more pressing things to deal with, like getting Oakley back into the safety of my home.
I can’t blame her for running. Hell, I’m fucking proud of her for having what it took to actually evade me, but fuck, it really messes with my plans.
Storming out the door, I make my way down the hall to find the boys and see what progress they’ve made when I hear someone running up behind me.
“Zade,” Cara calls out.
For fuck’s sake.
“What?” I spit, not even close to having forgiven her. “I don’t have time.”
“I know, I just . . . are you in love with her?”
“What?” I grunt, whipping around to face her. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
“Oakley,” she says, a strange mix of sadness and jealousy flashing in her familiar eyes. “You and I, we’ve been, you know, fooling around for years, and you’ve never once gone hard for me the way you do with her. She sleeps in your fucking bed, Zade. I’ve never been allowed to do that, not even close.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You’re in love with her.”
I shake my head. “She’s my sacrifice, that’s it,” I tell her, hating that I’m even having this conversation. “Besides, if she was more, that’s none of your fucking concern. You and I have never been anything more than convenience. I’m not in love with you, Cara. I can barely tolerate you.”
Her face falls, and I resist the urge to roll my eyes.
“I don’t have time for your fucking feelings, Cara, and honestly, neither do you. You’re not some spoiled rich girl anymore. You’re the twelfth member of The Circle who has direct orders from her future leader. So either go get it done, or I’ll find someone else more qualified. But if you don’t, you can go back to being a prisoner in my home. Don’t think for even a moment that just because you stand in The Circle means that your betrayals against me have been forgotten. I’m giving you a fucking chance, Cara. Don’t waste it.”